Kieran O'Donnell
Limerick City · Fine Gael · Ireland
“The triangle of supports of home care, day care and meals on wheels services — including dementia-specific supports — plays a vital role in helping older people to age well in their own communities. Meals on wheels services provide much more than nutritious meals.”
“The organisation currently operates a day care service four days per week, supporting approximately 60 registered users, and a meals on wheels service with 104 registered users. The HSE has advised that increased funding has been committed to support the organisation.”
“I join the Leas-Chathaoirleach in welcoming the Kellehers to the Seanad, which is a beautiful building in its own right. I thank Senator Kelleher for raising this important matter. He has advocated for Westgate Foundation over a sustained period of time and that has to be acknowledged. I know the work it does is close to his heart.”
“I again thank the Senator for raising Westgate Foundation in Ballincollig and the work it does on behalf of the community, particularly older people. The Senator referred to housing on-site. It is very much an integrated model. I could see how committed the staff and the board, many of them voluntary, were.”
“The Government has significantly increased investment in meals on wheels services in recent years. Funding increased from €3.5 million in 2022 to €6.25 million in 2025, with a further €2 million allocated in budget 2026 to support service expansion and maintenance.”
“The shared objective of the HSE and Westgate Foundation is to ensure high-quality day care and meals on wheels services continue to be available to older people who rely on them, particularly in the greater Ballincollig area.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,420 lines we hold for Kieran O'Donnell, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 23 of 29.
“Thoughtful preparation combining policy and institutional reforms, investment in capital infrastructure and technological innovation can enable this country to meet this challenge and take advantage of the real opportunities presented by demographic change. Investing in services for older people has been a governmental priority over recent years. There has been an increase of approximately €1 billion in funding for services for older people since 2020. This year alone has seen an increase of approximately €350 million on the amount secured under budget 2024, bringing the total figure to approximately €3 billion in budget 2025. Sláintecare is the most significant reform programme in Ireland’s health sector and Sláintecare reforms are changing how health and social care services are provided.”
“As all Members of this House will be aware, the Irish population is growing across all regions and age groups, with the most significant growth seen in the older age groups. The number of people aged 65 years and over is estimated to have risen by more than 40% between 2013 and 2023 and is expected to double again to 1.6 million by 2051. In 2020, it was also estimated that there were approximately 64,000 people living with dementia in Ireland. This number is expected to rise to 150,000 by 2045. The improved health outcomes and extended life expectancy that have been achieved in recent decades must be acknowledged and celebrated. We all clearly recognise the benefits that our older population offers to society. Ageing populations will, however, present many healthcare, social, and economic challenges in the coming decades.”
“Subsequently, a cross-departmental group will be established under the auspices of the commission to consider whether the supports for positive ageing across the life course are fit for purpose and to develop a costed implementation plan for options to optimise and implement these supports. The commission on care is due to publish its first report shortly. The programme for Government 2025 pledges to publish, resource and implement a national action plan that will take account of the work of the commission on care to ensure that long-term care is timely, comprehensive, and affordable, and examine and enhance the mix of professional care options, including homecare, community-based care, independent living options and long-term residential care facilities.”
“This is a €10 million scheme that will support nursing homes to carry out structural works to improve compliance with standards published by HIQA under regulation 17, which concerns the nursing home premises itself. The maximum that can be claimed by an individual nursing home under this scheme is €25,000. I am aware that while our commitments in the programme for Government are ambitious and achievable, the scale of the demographic challenge ahead is significant. In this context, in March 2024, the Government established an independent commission on care for older people. The commission is charged with examining the provision of health and social care services and supports for older people and with making recommendations to the Government for their strategic development.”
“The Department of Health is therefore committed to creating new design standards for long-term residential care settings for older people across all sectors. The aim of the design guide is to describe and illustrate what good building design looks like for long-term residential care settings for older people, and to provide a common benchmark against which the standard of these settings can be measured. In December 2023, a public consultation on the draft design guide for long-term residential care settings for older people was launched, and a report on the public consultation reflecting the feedback received was published in January 2025. This is a matter I am working with my Department officials to progress as quickly as possible. Earlier this year, I launched the nursing home residential premises upgrade scheme.”
“The programme for Government commits to building more public nursing home beds and this is an absolute priority for me, the Minister for Health and the Government. The Department of Health, alongside the HSE, is developing a new public long-term residential care additional capacity plan, which will be published in 2025. This plan will be informed by an update of the 2018 health service capacity review, currently being undertaken by the Economic and Social Research Institute, which will identify future capacity needs in the sector. The ESRI report on older people’s care will be published this month. It is also of paramount importance that the built environment and location of long-term residential care settings support high-quality care and positive experiences for our older population.”
“The Government is also committed to continued investment in healthcare infrastructure which supports the highest quality care for our older population and to utilising planning and resource allocation measures as a lever to reduce regional inequalities in long-term residential care supply. This investment includes the ongoing community nursing unit programme, a major capital infrastructure programme which was launched to ensure that up to 90 of our public community nursing units and community hospitals would be refurbished or replaced in order to provide the best quality environments for our older people and to meet HIQA standards. A sum of €4 million was allocated in budget 2025 to staff and open 615 public community beds this year in capital projects that are coming to fruition through this programme.”
“Most people avail of this care through the nursing home support scheme, commonly known as fair deal. Fair deal was designed to protect and support vulnerable older people, to give them a home and to ensure equal access to nursing home care. It has given people the opportunity to live in a safe environment in a sector that holds to the highest standards of care. For those who avail of long-term residential care, it is critical this high standard of care continues to be provided in settings that meet their needs. The fair deal scheme will receive Government funding in excess of €1.2 billion this year.”
“It is acknowledged that the nursing home sector has evolved in Ireland over the past 30 years from a predominantly State-led service to a situation today where approximately 80% of nursing home services are provided by the private sector. I am fully aware of the investment trends in the long-term residential care market, the growing consolidation of the sector and the complex investment and ownership structures that now exist. It is therefore important that all aspects of the nursing home sector are scrutinised over the coming period to ensure service delivery and configuration meet the needs of service users in a sustainable and safe manner. For those people who require long-term residential care, it is imperative we ensure they have access to safe, high-quality and regulated care services in a timely manner.”
“As Minister of State with responsibility for older people I remain fully committed, working with the Minister for Health, to introducing this robust national policy on adult safeguarding for the health and social care sector, strengthening Ireland’s existing legal, policy, and operational safeguarding framework and driving necessary reforms to enhance protections within the health and social care sector. Although engagement with our older population clearly indicates their preference to age in their own homes for as long as possible, it is recognised that care provided in long-term residential care settings will continue to be an important part of the continuum of care for older people. Across the country, nursing homes in the public, private and voluntary sectors play a vital role in the provision of long-term care and other services.”
“However, the distressing images we saw on "RTÉ Investigates" and "Prime Time" demand a fundamental change in culture, one in which poor care, poor practice and abusive and inappropriate behaviour are not tolerated, and one in which staff feel empowered and supported to call out poor practice and know exactly how to do this. The forthcoming policy on adult safeguarding for the sector will not only provide the framework for legislative change, but also for a wide-ranging reform programme across the sector to ensure that a culture of safeguarding and of intolerance for poor care is fostered and embedded at all levels. Safeguarding in its widest interpretation is about safe services. We all have a fundamental right to feel safe, especially in the case of residents of nursing homes, in what is their home.”
“The 2013 care and welfare regulations contain specific requirements in respect of adult safeguarding, including the following: the provider must have a safeguarding policy and must take all reasonable measures to protect residents from abuse; all incidents or allegations of abuse must be investigated by the person in charge and notified to the chief inspector and records kept; and staff must be trained in the detection and prevention of and responses to abuse. We also have national standards for safeguarding, which were developed jointly by HIQA and the Mental Health Commission. This is not to say we do not need further legislative provisions. We will be bringing this legislation forward as a matter of priority.”
“Importantly, it will commit to the introduction of safeguarding legislation in the sector and will set out, at a high level, proposed legislative provisions. The Government has included a health (adult safeguarding) Bill in its legislative programme to facilitate this and it is recognised that this will be an important development in protecting vulnerable adults from abuse. We look forward to engaging with Deputies on this important legislation over the coming period. I want to be clear that legislation on its own cannot and will not address the failings in care we have witnessed in these two nursing homes. We must remember that we already have safeguarding requirements in legislation for nursing homes.”
“The Department of Health, in collaboration with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, is finalising an adult safeguarding policy for the health and social care sector. Our intention is to bring it to Government before the summer recess. This policy has been informed by research, stakeholder engagement and an extensive public consultation carried out last year. It has also been informed by the Law Reform Commission report from 2024 and the Mcllroy review of adult safeguarding in the HSE, also published last year. The policy will provide a framework for strengthening adult safeguarding structures, processes and supports across our health and social care services, inclusive of the public, voluntary and private sectors.”
“The HSE has confirmed it will be engaging with all nursing homes in the Emeis group over the coming week. With Department of Health officials, I also met HSE senior staff and management from the six health regions yesterday. This engagement was constructive and centred on supporting residents and staff in community nursing units across the country to deliver the highest quality of care. I turn to adult safeguarding. I know there have been many calls since the "RTÉ Investigates" and "Prime Time" programmes aired for the introduction of adult safeguarding legislation. I also know that many Deputies have been calling for this legislation for much longer. I am on record as stating that the introduction of safeguarding legislation for the health and social care sector is a priority for me and the Minister for Health.”
“I want to be very clear that every nursing home resident deserves and should expect the highest standard of care at all times. To achieve this, it is paramount that registered providers of nursing homes adequately support their staff. Having effective governance and management arrangements in place ensures staff are equipped to deliver person-centred care to residents. That includes training and staffing. I met with the HSE chief social worker and HSE staff and management from the two nursing regions where the two nursing homes are located yesterday. The HSE confirmed the directors of nursing from both local community support teams have been onsite in both nursing homes and continue to engage with them. A review of safeguarding concerns raised in respect of the two nursing homes is also ongoing.”
“The chief inspector has committed to providing an interim report by the end of this week and a full report by the end of next week, providing an overview of regulatory history, including but not limited to regulatory compliance, escalating enforcement actions and any additional conditions of registration. HIQA has publicly acknowledged the importance of examining its processes and methodology. It is essential that these are continually being looked at for ways to improve the inspection and regulation of nursing homes. On Tuesday of this week, I had a constructive engagement with representative bodies and stakeholders from the nursing home sector, with an immediate focus on delivering the highest quality care to the residents of nursing homes in Ireland.”
“At this meeting, HIQA’s chief inspector confirmed its continuous intensive engagements with the two nursing homes in question and committed to providing me with an update on progress this week. I assure the Members of the House that I, the Minister for Health and the Department of Health continue to closely monitor developments regarding both nursing homes. The welfare of residents and their families will remain our highest priority. The Minister will be meeting with HIQA shortly. I have formally requested that HIQA furnish me with a comprehensive overview report of all of the nursing homes in the Emeis group.”
“I expect the highest standards of care to be upheld for every resident in every nursing home across the country, and anything less than this standard will simply not be tolerated. The distressing footage aired during the "RTÉ Investigates" programme highlighted serious issues of non-compliance within these nursing homes. As the national independent regulator of nursing homes in Ireland, I expect HIQA and the office of the chief inspector to utilise all powers available to them to ensure rigorous oversight and accountability in nursing home care. I met with HIQA on Wednesday, 4 June to discuss regulatory activity relating to the nursing homes featured in the "RTÉ Investigates" programme.”
“It is important to acknowledge the committed, compassionate and dedicated providers and care staff operating in nursing homes across the country. Like everyone else watching the programme, I was shocked and deeply concerned at the level of non-compliance with care standards in evidence from the distressing footage that was aired. In a subsequent RTÉ "Prime Time" programme broadcast this week, we also heard personal testimony from Paul Guy on behalf of the family of Audeon Guy, regarding the poor ongoing care that their father has been receiving in Beneavin Manor. As Minister of State with responsibility for older people, I want to state categorically that poor care, mistreatment, neglect or any other form of abuse of any person living in a long-term residential care centre is completely unacceptable.”
“I welcome the opportunity to discuss nursing homes and the care of older people. To begin, I want to acknowledge the "RTÉ Investigates" programme that was broadcast on 4 June. This was a very hard-hitting and harrowing programme which highlighted a litany of poor care standards in two nursing homes, showing clear neglect and abuse of older people, namely, the Residence, Portlaoise, and Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin. The welfare of the residents and their families was obviously at the forefront of my concerns following the RTÉ programme. I am very conscious of the impact this programme will have had on the residents, their families and the staff in the nursing homes featured in the broadcast. I am also conscious of the impact the programme will have had on the nursing home sector more generally.”
“As the Deputy is probably aware, Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with queries from public representatives. It can be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or via the dedicated telephone number 0818 578 578. The Deputy makes a valid point that comes up repeatedly about the interaction and response times. It came up in a previous debate here about Uisce Éireann as well. It is a matter that we will continue to bring up directly with Uisce Éireann itself, but I ask the Deputy to email the Minister as well.”
“There are two issues in that regard. The first is the water mains works that need to be carried out by Uisce Éireann and then the follow-on work involving the reconstruction of the road itself. The local authority and the Department of Transport would probably be involved, along with Uisce Éireann. I will go back to the Minister, Deputy Browne, to follow up on Uisce Éireann's communication on disruptions and the need to perhaps have a protocol for schools, which is vital. For completeness, I ask the Deputy to follow up by providing those details in correspondence directly to the Minister. I will bring the matter raised to the Minister's attention and to the attention of his officials but, for completeness, I urge the Deputy to set out all the points.”
“I thank Deputy Ó Cearúil very much. I accept the points he makes and how genuine he is in raising them and outlining the impact. The Minister, Deputy Browne, has made inquiries and was informed that there are operational challenges in the wastewater network in Celbridge, including Hazelhatch. However, under the national leakage reduction programme, Uisce Éireann is progressing with the replacement of 5.2 km of old water mains between Newcastle, County Dublin, and Celbridge, County Kildare. The main contractor is mobilising crews to commence site investigations that are necessary for the design stage of the project. The construction phase is estimated to commence in quarter 3 of 2025. The Deputy raised a couple of other points. There is clearly a need for a structured protocol in Irish Water. We spoke about the impact on the schools.”
“In another project, Uisce Éireann upgraded wastewater infrastructure in Newbridge as part of the wider Upper Liffey Valley sewerage scheme to reduce overflows into the River Liffey. A total of 11 towns across Kildare benefited from the completion of a €75 million investment by Uisce Éireann to upgrade and improve the local wastewater infrastructure. The completion of these vital projects will improve the water quality in the Liffey by reducing the risk of sewer overflows during severe weather events.”
“The works also provide laying new water service connections from the public water main on the road to customers' property boundaries and connecting it to the customers' water supply, with an estimated construction completion in quarter 3 of 2025. In Leixlip, phase 2 of upgrade works costing €20 million is almost complete at the Leixlip water treatment plant. This plant has now commenced a third investment phase worth €30 million, aimed at increasing the resilience and capacity of Ireland's second largest water treatment facility, which is anticipated to take three years to complete. I will turn now to other investment in Kildare, Uisce Éireann completed essential works to upgrade the wastewater network in Newbridge north.”
“This project will provide a more reliable water supply to customers and local businesses in the area with less disruption due to bursts and leakages. Uisce Éireann is also carrying out leakage reduction works in Allenwood to provide a more reliable water supply and reduce the high level of leakage. Uisce Éireann is also carrying out leakage reduction works in Allenwood to provide a more reliable water supply and reduce the high level of leakage. The work involves the replacement of more than 3.7 km of problematic water mains with new modern pipes. The works commenced in November 2024 and 2 km are now complete.”
“I have made inquiries, and I am informed that there are operational challenges in the water network in Celbridge, including Hazelhatch. However, under the national leakage reduction programme, Uisce Éireann is progressing with a replacement of 5.2 km of Irish Water mains between Newcastle, County Dublin and Celbridge, County Kildare, which the Deputy has already referenced. Uisce Éireann's contractor is mobilising crews to commence site investigations that are necessary for design stage of the project, which the Deputy also referenced. The construction phase is estimated to commence in quarter 3 of 2025. These essential works are part of a significant investment programme by Uisce Éireann to improve the water network between Newcastle and Celbridge.”
“I thank Deputy Ó Cearúil for raising this important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. At the outset, I should advise that the Water Services Act 2017 sets out the arrangements in place for the delivery of water and wastewater services by Uisce Éireann. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects are a matter for Uisce Éireann and approved through its own board and internal governance structure. The Minister has no role in these matters. I will bring the points the Deputy raised to the Minister's attention, however, and I will arrange for a follow-up with Uisce Éireann. It is not acceptable that he would be waiting for four or five return calls. We will follow up on that.”
“The second was that it would provide a report on the Emeis group and all its nursing homes. I asked for an overview of all its nursing homes and its regulatory history, including but not limited to regulatory compliance, escalating enforcement actions and any additional conditions of registration. I expect to receive a report with an update on the two nursing homes by the end of this week. I also expect an interim report in respect of the Emeis group by the end of this week and a more substantive report on it - the full report - by the end of next week. This is all about older people in nursing homes. I want them to have safe environments. We all have elderly relatives. It is something I feel strongly and passionately about.”
“There is a commitment in the programme for Government to bring forward an adult safeguarding policy for the health and social care sector. I expect the issue will be brought to the Cabinet before the summer recess. Following that, we will be looking for approval to progress a health and adult safeguarding Bill, which is in the current legislative programme. It is a matter of absolute priority. I am on record as saying that I would like to see inspections taking place more quickly and timeframes for protected disclosures. The Deputy will appreciate that I want to work within a process. Immediately after the two nursing homes were named by RTÉ, I met representatives of HIQA and requested two things. The first was that HIQA would engage intensively with the nursing homes. It committed to doing that.”
“The policy will commit to the development of adult safeguarding legislation for the sector and will build on the range of existing legislation, policies and procedures already in place in the sector for preventing, reporting and responding to abuse. The Government has included a health (adult safeguarding) Bill in its current legislative programme to facilitate this. It is recognised that this will be an important further development in preventing abuse and protecting vulnerable adults from abuse. What happened in the two nursing homes featured in the "RTÉ Investigates" programme was appalling. It was sheer neglect and abuse of older people. This is something that I, the Department and the Government take very seriously. It is something I want to ensure, through the process I have outlined, never happens again.”
“Third, the directors of nursing from both local HSE community support teams have been on site at the two nursing homes in question. Additionally, local safeguarding and protection teams are actively reviewing all safeguarding concerns raised in relation to these facilities. I and Department of Health officials met with representative bodies and stakeholders from the nursing home sector earlier today. The engagements were constructive, with an immediate focus on delivering the highest quality of care to residents of nursing homes in Ireland. On the safeguarding points the Deputy made and on adult safeguarding in the sector more generally, the Government is fully committed to strengthening existing protections. We will publish a national adult safeguarding policy for the health and social care sector shortly.”
“HIQA's chief inspector has confirmed their continuous intensive engagements with the two nursing homes concerned and has committed to providing me with an update on their progress by the end of this week. I assure the Deputy that my Department and I are monitoring developments closely, with both these nursing homes and the welfare of residents remaining my highest priority. Second, I have formally requested an overview of the nursing home operators owned by Emeis. The chief inspector has committed to furnishing an interim report to me by the end of this week and a full report by the end of next week, providing an overview of regulatory history, including but not limited to regulatory compliance, escalating enforcement actions and any additional conditions of registration.”
“Having effective governance and management arrangements in place ensures that staff are equipped to deliver person-centred care to residents. The distressing footage aired during the "RTÉ Investigates" programme highlighted serious issues of non-compliance within these facilities. The welfare of residents and their families remains a paramount concern for me. Action is being taken to address these failures and strengthen oversight to ensure the protection and well-being of all individuals in these nursing homes. First, I fully expect HIQA and the office of the chief inspector to utilise all powers available to them to ensure rigorous oversight and accountability in nursing home care.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. We were all shocked and appalled by what we saw on the "RTÉ Investigates" programme last week. I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the matter. I especially recognise how incredibly difficult it has been for the residents of the Residence in Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor and their families. We heard that first hand from the family of Audeon Guy this evening on "Prime Time". I want to make it clear that poor care, neglect and any form of abuse of individuals residing in long-term residential care centres is wholly unacceptable. The highest standards of care and dignity must be always upheld, without exception. Every nursing home resident deserves the highest standard of care at all times. To achieve this, registered providers must adequately support their staff.”
“I once again thank the Deputy for his interest in this important area. I will bring his comments to the attention of the Minister for Health and the officials in the Department. As the initial reply stated, the next step in the agreed process is for the applicant company to submit a full HTA dossier to the NCPE. To date, a full HTA dossier has not been received by the NCPE, which awaits that submission from the applicant company. As stated, I will bring the points the Deputy raised to the attention of the Minister and her officials. The Deputy made a very cogent point on a particular issue for women.”
“This is an unprecedented level of investment in supporting patients through the availability of the latest and wide range of medicines. Between budget 2021 and budget 2024, an additional €128 million was allocated for new medicines, which facilitated the introduction of 194 new drugs for reimbursement by the HSE, including 74 for treating cancer and 46 for treating rare diseases. For 2025, funding of €30 million has been allocated to enable access to new medicines. This will come directly from efficiencies to be achieved by the HSE. Throughout this year and over the coming years, we will continue to focus on investment in medicines including through the maximisation of the considerable budget available, to ensure patients can access medicines in as timely a way as possible.”
“Subsequently, the HSE commissioned a full HTA and a pre-submission consultation took place between the NCPE and the company in April 2024. The next step in the agreed process is for the applicant to submit a full HTA dossier to the NCPE. To date, a full HTA dossier has not been received by the NCPE. Given the substantial budgetary impact of the funds sought by the applicant, the company must engage with the pricing and reimbursement process in order for the application to progress. The State acknowledges the importance of access to medicines and has made considerable investments in new medicines in recent years. A record of more than €3 billion, almost €1 in every €8 of public funding spent on health in 2023 was spent on medicines.”
“HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, NCPE. Formal processes govern applications for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines and new uses of existing medicines to be funded or reimbursed, or both. In March 2024, the NCPE completed a rapid review of Veoza. Factors that are evaluated during rapid review include the cost of the drug relative to potential comparators, uncertainty in comparative clinical effectiveness, uncertainty in cost effectiveness and the potential drug budget impact. On this occasion, the NCPE recommended a full health technology assessment, HTA, of Veoza to assess its clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness compared with the current standard of care.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I will provide some background and then address the Deputy's question. Fezolinetant, marketed under the trade name Veoza by Astellas Pharma is a medicine used to treat moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats associated with menopause. The European Medicines Agency granted marketing authorisation for this product in December 2023. The company marketing this medicine made an application for addition to the HSE reimbursement list in February 2024. The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.”
“The message must go out loud and clear to local authorities that they should come forward with those additional voids and the Department will look at providing funding. I thank all Deputies who contributed thus far to the debate on this motion. I commend the amendment to the House.”
“The Department will continue to drive improvements and change in this area. We are working with stakeholders in local government to ensure every home counts, vacancy is minimised and maintenance is planned. As I said, the Government has provided funding for remediation of 1,900 void units this year and will provide flexibility in respect of any additional funding that becomes available throughout the year. If units become vacant above that figure, local authorities are advised to apply to the Department for funding. The survey carried out by the Department last year came up with a figure of 1,900.”
“It protects housing quality for existing tenants and helps to ensure every property remains a viable home into the future. It supports quick turnaround times by completing the works necessary to meet the rental standards at the time of vacancy, with all other works completed over the life cycle of the tenancy. The reduction to 2.8% vacancy rate is not just a statistical achievement. It represents thousands of homes brought back into use, lives changed and communities strengthened. It is a sign our policies are working and colleagues in local authorities are rising to the challenge. There is still more to do and the demand for housing remains acute. Every vacant unit must be viewed as an opportunity to meet housing needs and reinforce our commitment to social housing delivery.”
“Stock surveys provide the foundational data local authorities need to make smart, strategic decisions about their assets. These surveys allow local authorities to profile their stock, prioritise interventions and plan capital works effectively. With this knowledge in hand, local authorities can budget effectively, avoid costly emergency repairs and extend the life of their properties. The ICT solution has been implemented nationally to manage the housing asset and the planned maintenance programme. All 31 local authorities have been on-boarded. The ICT solution provides the ability to carry out and gather the data on stock condition surveys, which will inform future work programmes. Investing in planned maintenance is not just a technical issue.”
“Rolling out planned maintenance programmes means we can identify issues early, respond systematically and protect the State-owned housing assets. It also improves tenant satisfaction, strengthens trust and reduces disruption. To that end, it should be noted that nearly €200 million per annum of Exchequer funding is being provided to local authorities for improvement works on the local authority housing stock. This funding is being provided under the following programmes: planned maintenance or voids programme, the energy efficiency retrofit programme, the regeneration programme and the disabled persons grants programme. As we look forward, the key to improving vacancy levels lies in robust stock condition surveys and the continued expansion of rolling planned maintenance programmes.”
“It is also of note that some homes currently vacant are not voids, but vacant as a result of them being new turnkeys or second-hand acquisitions awaiting letting, currently under repair or earmarked for demolition in areas of major regeneration. The Department has supported the remediation of these 1,900 units this year and will provide maximum flexibility for any additional units that become vacant throughout the year. Equally important is the move we are making from a reactive model of maintenance to a planned and preventative one. This transition to planned maintenance is critical. It ensures that local authority housing stock remains in good condition, reduces the incidence of unplanned vacancy and is more cost-effective in the long run.”
“To put this in perspective, a vacancy rate of under 3% in a housing system as large and diverse as the local government sector reflects both the commitment and effectiveness of our local authorities. That said, this figure must not be seen as a conclusion, but as a milestone. We are making progress and we want to continue to strengthen planned maintenance regimes, and to build even greater capacity at the local level. The Department undertook a review of the issue last year which identified some 1,900 homes that could have been put forward by the sector for inclusion in the Department’s voids programme. This is because the issue of vacancy is a continuous process, with tenancy surrender and the re-letting of homes ongoing throughout the year.”
“Over the last ten years, over 25,600 formerly vacant units have been brought back into productive use supported by Exchequer funding of over €361 million. The financial support from central government, channelled through voids funding, has allowed local authorities to target long-term vacant units and carry out essential works. Without this targeted investment, many of these homes could have remained idle, risking further deterioration and compounding the problem. I also want to mention the work of the National Oversight and Audit Commission, NOAC, relating to the performance indicators in local authority housing stock. Its most recent findings indicate a welcome reduction in local authority housing vacancy rates to 2.8%, a notable and commendable achievement.”
“The Government will make it clear that the concerns being raised are in fact being addressed through various stock improvement programmes run by the Department and the steps being taken to move from a response-based approach to a planned and strategic approach to the management and maintenance of the local authority social housing stock informed by stock condition surveys. The Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that the level of vacant local authority housing stock is kept to the minimum possible at all times. Let me start by acknowledging the progress we have already made in addressing vacancy. Over the last decade, there has been sustained and significant Exchequer funding committed to improving the condition, availability and occupancy of local authority housing stock.”